Foundations of Health Psychology » (1st Edition)

Howard S. Friedman is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). His research is focused on lifespan psychosocial predictors and mediators of health and longevity. Dr. Friedman is the recipient of the career award for "Outstanding Contributions to Health Psychology" from the American Psychological Association (Division 38) and winner of UCR's Distinguished Teaching Award.

Roxane Cohen Silver is Professor of Psychology and Social Behavior and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She studies how individuals cope with stressful life experiences, such as loss of a spouse or child, divorce, childhood sexual abuse, physical disability, natural disaster, and terrorism. Dr. Silver has been an advisor to the US Department of Homeland Security and has received UCI's Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award for Teaching.

Health psychology is the scientific study of psychological processes related to health and health care. Although the field is only 25 years old, it has burgeoned into a major scientific and clinical discipline. Health psychology has excellent scientific journals, thousands of scientists and practitioners, and many students. Yet, there has not been a sufficient statement or explication of the foundational concepts upon which this flourishing field is built.

Foundations of Health Psychology brings together top experts to provide a much-needed conceptual base for this rapidly expanding field. Rather than take a medical model approach, the volume examines health psychology from a theoretical, conceptual, and psychological perspective. After presenting an overview of the field's history and methods, the contributors address core concepts of the biopsychosocial approach to health and then discuss applications to health promotion and illness prevention and treatment.

Providing a deep understanding of the intellectual foundations of health psychology, this volume will be invaluable for both new and experienced researchers, as well as students and other scholars seeking a firm basis for successful research and practice.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description:This book discusses health psychology using a biopsychosocial model, presenting a theoretical foundation, core concepts, and clinical applications. It covers health psychology from a psychology model, as opposed to the traditional medical model.
Purpose:According to the editors, "although the formal field of health psychology is only 25 years old, it has burgeoned into a major scientific and clinical discipline. Health psychology has excellent scientific journals, thousands of scientists and practitioners, and many students. Yet there has not been sufficient statement and explication of the underpinning concepts on which this flourishing field is built. The present foundational volume provides this conceptual base."
Audience:The book is aimed at "graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, new researchers, and other investigators seeking the firmest possible basis for successful research and practice," according to the editors. Dr. Friedman is distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California Riverside and Dr. Silver is professor of psychology and social behavior and professor of medicine at the University of California Irvine. The other distinguished contributors are working at prestigious universities.
Features:The book is divided into three parts covering history and methods; core concepts of the biopsychosocial approach to health; and applications to health promotion and effective treatment. The first part discusses the history and background of health psychology, along with designing research and understanding measurement concepts. The second part covers key concepts of the biopsychosocial model, a term coined by Dr. George Engel in the 1970s. These include homeostasis, psychoneuroimmunology, stress, social support, and self-healing. The last part covers clinical application including adjustment to chronic disease, aging and health, and coping with loss. The first chapter on the history of health psychology is a wonderful beginning to the book. Near the end, two enlightening chapters (11 and 12) cover coping with trauma and loss. The book is easy to read and comprehensive. The figures/tables are highly instructive. It is full of research and the applications for treatment and prevention are extremely helpful. This book can be used as a reference, especially for students who cannot afford to buy many books. The only shortcoming is the lack of clinical examples or case studies.
Assessment:In the field of health psychology, this is the book to have. It is comprehensive and covers the ground one would expect. It is easy to read and presents a thorough research foundation. As a psychologist, I appreciate the psychological approach rather than the medical model.